OllyK

Mine isn't even dug yet, pump and filter in the cupboard and 2 years of research!

Spoon

Research? Hole/s, water, sorted.

OllyK

No, no, no. Which type of liner, PVC, Butyl and now there is a new one on the market. How to design the waterfall. Which pumps and filters etc etc etc. Do we go plant, fish, fish and plant, wildlife? What about a bog garden?

Anything to put off the moment of actually having to dig a big **** off hole

Spoon

I was kidding as I've been there and done it BUT as I have 2 large ponds I got a JCB to make them.

OllyK

I could be tempted to get a mini-digger, no way I'll get a JCB in to the back garden

Sonic'

Right been down to the local Pond place this morning

got myself a new UV tube for the Ecopower 4500, and had a chat with them whilst I was there

The suggestion was as follows

Give the Filter a good clean out, rinse the foam in clean water, and clean the curly plastic bits in a bucket of pond water to maintein bacteria

Clean the pump and then place about 8-10 inches off the bottom on raised bricks (this will stop the silt going into the pump and then into the filter)

Fit a regulator just below the surface of the water (in case it leaks and wont empty the pond ) and try the flow reduced by a third

If after two weeks there is little or no improvement then do the following

Add the Bioforce but remove the original foam, and replace with two large brushes and use as a pre filter with UV

But they said that the pump and filter I have should eat my pond, as it is way more than capable

So will be doing all that after lunch

David Lock

Good luck.

Personally I wouldn't clean the "plastic bits" too much as that is home to the bacteria. If you clean it too much then you lose the bacteria and it'll take a while to re-establish. The muckier the better I say!! (except for the green strands). You can get a small bottle of bacteria to pour in to speed up the process if required. d

PS. Did he suggest a partial water change?

Don't do what I did and forget to turn off the pump when replacing the UV light. 15,000 litres per hour of pond water up one's nostrils is best avoided

Sonic'

Yes I see what you mean

There is a lot of sludge in the filter, so what I might do is just move the plastic bits into a bucket (without cleaning) and then clean out all the sludge then put the plastic bits back

David Lock

Sounds a good plan

andypugh2000

Hi David glad you got it sorted, was this Graham by any chance?

I went to see him last week and some of the big boys he has in his tanks in the new sheds are just

Sonic, I think your problem is what mine used to suffer from and thats poor filtration, I got a 120 ish litre filter tank with foam layers on the top and flocor underneath, what with being coupled up to a 30w uv system my water quality problems are now history.

This is all in a 1200 gallon pond..

Andy

David Lock

Hi Andy - good to hear from you

Yes, Graham as you guessed. He really is a knowledgable guy. Yes the sturgeon he has in the shed are pretty impressive. I think they're going for a couple of grand each if you wanted one. Glad your pond is ship shape. d

Sonic'

Done the changes now, just need to wait and see if they have worked, the smell from the filter was pretty bad

Andy, the filtration I have should be more than adequate for the pond I have, but like others have said, and the shop is that the flow rate is too much for the pond

I have dropped it to half the rate now, so hopefully I should see some improvement

Steve

pauld37

This site is really helpful

Koi Magazine

Joined up a couple of months ago for some info. when we enlarged our pond, I find I log on there before I log on to SN now-a-days

andypugh2000

Hi David,

I had thoughts about one of Grahams fish but the ones i have bought from him that were 8 inches are now nearing 40 inches so space will soon be a problem and an upgrade is on the cards.

I buy his special sturgeon food and the koi also live on it, it is like a frenzy when they get fed, the ghost koi have got absolutely massive as well as the sturgeon and koi.

Next time I am down that way I will give you a shpout and maybe pop round and see you?

I also have a caravan in anmering so I am down there a fair bit on and off..

A few pics
Just after installation 3 years ago



Taken tonight....






Regards

Andy

David Lock

Did you meet Graham's collie dog? Got the shiniest coat I know because he loves the fish food and all the oils help his coat!

They'll be wanting to film "I'm a celebrity get me outta here" in that jungle of yours, looks great. Yeah give me a buzz when you're over this way

andypugh2000

Yes the mad collie Jay, lovely dog.

I know what you mean with the jungle but it kind of fits in, it looks great in real life especially the giant rhubarb plant (gunnera)